Cover image courtesy of Fasig-Tipton
At A Glance
One hundred and seventy-two horses sold for a total of US$93,948,500 (AU$142.9 million), down on $101,281,000 (AU$152.8 million) in 2023, with a through-the-ring clearance rate of 72.9 per cent.
The sale averaged US$546,212 (AU$831,000), with a median of US$250,000 (AU$380,000). Those figures showed slight declines from the 2023 auction, which saw 154 horses sell for an average of US$657,669 (AU$995,000) and a median of $295,000 (AU$446,000).
Grade 1 winner McKulick, a standout daughter of Frankel, topped the night with a US$6 million (AU$9.12 million) sale to Grand Stud.
Arrowfield’s Jon Freyer made two significant purchases, purchasing stakes winners Downtown Mischief and Evvie Jets, while Australian-based Willingham Stud purchased two Grade 1 winners who recently raced in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
French Group 1 winner Ramatuelle, managed by bloodstock agent Arthur Hoyeau and with interests including Australian breeder Matthew Sandblom, sold to M.V. Magnier for US$5.1 million (AU$7.75 million).
Twenty-five mares sold for over US$1 million, matching the figure from 2023. A powerful Japanese buying bench was responsible for nine of the million-dollar mares.
Fasig-Tipton’s Night of Stars dazzles again
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale delivered another memorable “Night of the Stars” as elite mares and top-class bloodstock achieved eye-popping prices, solidifying the event’s reputation as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Sale. Held at Fasig-Tipton’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky, the evening attracted an international lineup of buyers who competed fiercely for the sale’s standout lots, with 25 surpassing the million-dollar mark.
Reflecting on the night, Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning emphasised the sale’s international reach and the growing demand for high-quality mares. “Our friends from Japan continue to be major supporters of this sale. We also had European, Australian, and, of course, strong American participation. It was a very broad buying bench.”
Boyd Browning | Image courtesy of Fasig-Tipton
“Three years ago, we hit US$100 million for the first time and had US$100 million last year,” Browning said. “Now we have a goal for next year because we just missed the $100 million mark, which will keep us humble and hungry.”
The night’s highest price was achieved by McKulick (GB), a Grade 1-winning daughter of Frankel (GB), consigned by ELiTE as agent. The 5-year-old mare, sold as a racing and broodmare prospect, brought in US$6 million (AU$9.12 million) from Emmanuel de Seroux on behalf of Grand Farm.
McKulick’s exceptional record includes wins in the G1 Belmont Oaks Invitational and five additional Graded stakes, with nearly US$2 million (AU$3.04 million) in career earnings, making her a highly coveted addition to any breeding program.
“I wasn't expecting that,” Elite's Brad Weisbord admitted after watching the mare sell. “The reserve was half that.”
Success for Australian connections
Close behind in the stakes was Ramatuelle (USA) (Justify {USA}), the French Group 1 winner who went to Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier for US$5.1 million (AU$7.75 million). The filly is part-owned and managed by a familar face to Australian circles in Arthur Houyeau, the french bloodstock agent who worked for the Magic Millions bloodstock team for severeal years.
Consigned by Bedouin Bloodstock, the 3-year-old filly had recently gained attention after a PET scan led to her scratch from the G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile with bone remodelling. Ramatuelle holds an impressive record with her G1 Prix de la Floret win against older mares.
Gallery: Images courtesy of Fasig-Tipton
Ramatuelle had been through the ring once previously, when selling for €100,000 (AU$165,000) as a yearling at the Arqana August sale. Magnier tipped his hat to Hoyeau, who had purchased her as agent for MyRacehorse, Monceaux, Hollymount Stud and partners. Included in the ownership is Australian owner and breeder Matthew Sandblom and Hong Kong owner and breeder Ben Kwok.
“Arthur Hoyeau spotted her as a yearling and everybody else didn't,” said Magnier. “She's a very good filly and well done to them.”
“Arthur Hoyeau spotted her (Ramatuelle) as a yearling and everybody else didn't. She's a very good filly and well done to them.” - M.V. Magnier
Magnier mentioned that the filly would be retired to Coolmore to visit Wootton Bassett (GB).
Another high-profile transaction was Moira (Can) (Ghostzapper {USA}), Canada’s Horse of the Year, who was sold just days after her GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf victory. Hill ‘n’ Dale consigned the 5-year-old, who went to Bayles for US$4.3 million (AU$6.53 million).
Australian buyers active
Arrowfield's bloodstock manager Jon Freyer headed back to the shopping ground where he found Ms Bad Behavior (Can) (Blame {USA}), dam of the brilliant Coolmore S. winner Switzerland (Snitzel), for US$600,000 (AU$918,000) in 2019 for clients Cloros Bloodstock.
On Monday evening he went to US$800,000 (AU$1.2 million) to secure Into Mischief mare Downtown Mischief (USA), in foal to star stallion Gun Runner (USA) with her first pregnancy, from Bedouin Bloodstock. The four-time winning sprint mare had two Stakes victories in her race career.
Then, only seven lots later, Freyer signed the ticket for Grade 2-winning mare Evvie Jets (USA) (Twirling Candy {USA}) for US$750,000 (AU$1.14 million). Almost a millionaire in US dollar prizemoney earnings, Evvie Jets was Grade 1-placed in the 2023 Keeneland First Lady S. and most recently ran fifth in the same event a month ago.
Gallery: Images courtesy of Fasig-Tipton
Freyer has enjoyed tremendous success with this formula of sourcing breeding stock from the United States, beyond the success of Ms Bad Behavior, he also acquired Panorama Ridge (USA) (Empire Maker {USA}), who produced six winners from seven to race, headlined by the G3 Widden S. champion Mallory (Not A Single Doubt).
Australia-based Willingham Stud purchased the Grade 1-winning English Channel (USA) mare War Like Goddess (USA) for US$1.8 million (AU$2.7 million). Winner of the G1 Flower Bowl S. and G1 Belmont Joe Hirsch Turf Classic-twice, she most recently finished fifth in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf behind Moira.
Willingham Stud also went over the US$1 million mark to secure Full Count Felicia (USA) (War Front {USA}), a Grade 1 winner in Canada, who finished seventh in the same aforementioned Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf event.
Many more millionaires
Grade 1-producing Strong Incentive (USA) (Warrior’s Reward {USA}) initially went unsold before later being secured by M.V. Magnier and White Birch Farm for US$2.75 million (AU$4.18 million). The stakes-winning mare, consigned by Mill Ridge Sales, has produced Grade 1 winners Ways and Means (USA) (Practical Joke {USA}) and Surge Capacity (USA) (Flintshire {GB}). Surge Capacity, sold earlier for US$3.6 million (AU$5.47 million), making the family line one of the evening’s hottest commodities.
Hip 197 - Surge Capacity (USA) | Image courtesy of Fasig-Tipton
Another standout was Adare Manor (USA) (Uncle Mo), who fetched US$2.8 million (AU$4.25 million) from Katsumi Yoshida, joining a strong lineup of Japanese purchases. The 5-year-old mare, consigned by Hill 'n' Dale, claimed the G1 Apple Blossom Handicap and two consecutive GI Clement L. Hirsch S. titles under trainer Bob Baffert, solidifying her status as a top-tier racing and breeding prospect.
Denim and Pearls (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) also turned heads when Spendthrift Farm’s General Manager Ned Toffey signed for her at US$2.8 million (AU$4.25 million). The graded winner, consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, is a full sister to G1 Santa Anita Handicap winner Newgate (Into Mischief {USA}) and captured the G2 Beaumont S. this year, making her a valuable prospect for Spendthrift.
In an early highlight, Private Mission (Into Mischief), consigned by Hill 'n' Dale, was snapped up by Jane Lyon’s Summer Wind Farm for US$2.6 million (AU$3.95 million). The multiple graded stakes winner produced her first foal—a colt by Gun Runner (USA)—this spring and is now in foal to Curlin, adding valuable bloodlines from her immediate family, which includes GISWs Dunbar Road (Quality Road), Secret Status (A.P. Indy), and Dunkirk (Unbridled’s Song).
Attention now turns to the Keeneland Sale ground, which has catalogued 3384 horses in its November Sale over a total of nine sessions through to November 13.
In 2023, a total of 2128 horses sold through the Keeneland November Sale ring for US$176,571,000 (AU$267 million). The average was US$82,975 (AU$125,400), while the median closed out at US$32,000 (AU$48,400).
